Base Officials in Florida Use Frontloader to Remove Alligator From Runway

By R.J. Johnson - @rickethewriterMay 16, 2019

air force alligator

Officials at an Air Force base in Florida had to get creative when a large alligator decided to set up shop and hang out on the base's flight line.

MacDill Air Force Base officials tweeted a photo of the runway alligator dubbing it MacDill's "friendly, #TeamMacDill gator" writing that the reptile was just "preparing for take-off."

According to TampaBay.com, MacDill spokesman 2nd Lt. Brandon Hanner said the alligator was discovered early Tuesday morning. Gator sightings are a regular occurrence around MacDill Air Force Base, and Hanner said this alligator likely came from one of the base's bodies of water.

The alligator was removed thanks to the wing safety office's wildlife manager, Kory McLellan. The team lured the gator into the bucket of a front-end loader and relocated the reptile to a safer location.

It's not the first time the base had needed to deal with alligators. In August 2018, a 'monster' alligator named 'Elvis' was spotted wandering across a golf course on MacDill Air Force Base. Officials say Elvis lives in the ponds of the golf course on the base.